The Culture Of Vultures

Join me, if you will, on a journey back in time. Let’s visit those heady days of yore when the corporate media delivered unbiased accounts of important events, America met tragedy with sincerely respectful grief and former Bill Clinton Administration cabin boy George Stephanopoulos was revered as an icon of journalistic integrity. Just reading that sentence aloud ought to confirm one thing: I really need to lay off the sauce when I’m working.

Kidding aside, I can’t hearken back to those days for the same reason you can’t. Outside the fevered imaginations of left-wing sycophants and Stephanopoulos himself, those days never existed. So no one should have been surprised when, while covering the unfolding tragedy in Aurora, Colo., Stephanopolous and ABC News correspondent Brian Ross won the race to be the first liberal media to connect the suspect, James Holmes, to the Tea Party. It took Stephanopolous, Ross and the ABC/Democratic Party mouthpieces a few hours to find a “Jim Holmes” who belonged to the Tea Party and then erroneously associate him with the Aurora massacre. It took the same bunch of self-described “journalists” two years to notice President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder were trying to keep a lid on the Operation Fast and Furious debacle. Granted, Ross did retract the report later in the day; but he couldn’t unring the bell. I expect that was the point.

But forget about Stephanopolous, Ross and ABC News. I have a feeling they’re going to be a mite busy for the foreseeable future. Something about a Tea Party member named Jim Holmes who didn’t shoot anyone being miffed that the aforementioned liberals gave him the “Spike Lee” treatment. Ross, help Stephanopoulos down from his booster seat. It’s time for remedial ethics training at the Richard Jewell School for Excessively Garrulous Sock Puppets.

Of course the left was going to try to pin the actions of a psychopath to conservatives. It’s a reflexive response. The entire philosophical foundation of liberalism rests on the concept of refusing accountability and exploiting emotion over logic. Rahm Emanuel, the ghoulish (in more ways than one) former Obama White House Chief of Staff and current Mayor of Chicago, said it best: “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.” What he didn’t add was: “Especially if you can blame it on your political enemies.” The smoke had yet to clear in Aurora, and the Democratic Party mouthpieces were racing out to pile on.

Noted patriot Piers Morgan led the way on that front, tweeting: “America has got to do something about its gun laws. Now is the time.” Morgan was doubtless basing his question on the years of intensive Constitutional study required to be a British talent-show host. Actually, as I read Piers’ statement, I thought: “CNN’s resident limey just reminded me: America has got to do something about its immigration laws. Now is the time.”

He was far from alone. New York Mayor and Super-Nanny Michael Bloomberg chimed in while the smoke still swirled, tweeting: “It’s time for the presidential candidates to step up & tell us what they’ll do about guns in America.” Here’s a thought, Bloomberg: Stop enabling the sale of guns to Mexican narcoterrorists who murder American border agents. (Too soon?)

A host of Hollywood blowhards perked up at the possibility of gaining relevancy off the silver screen. Even the B-listers took their turns. Jason Alexander, previously noteworthy for his portrayal of George Costanza on the 90s sitcom “Seinfeld,” called for a ban on AR-style rifles. “They are not guaranteed or protected by our constitution.” He went on to equate ARs with nuclear weapons. I have one question for Alexander: “If you’re here, then who’s running Vandelay Industries? I hope you didn’t leave Kramer in charge.”

Democratic political vultures and entertainment industry buffoons raised the hue and cry: “Gun control!” Very few of them remembered that people had died and were still dying in Colorado — victims of a madman who had demonstrated the sort of skill with explosives that proves only that he would have found a way to kill, guns or not.

I have a tip for the anti-Bill of Rights crowd: There is no “gun control” story in Aurora. There is a human story in Aurora. Stop trying to manufacture the former at the expense of the latter. And if you won’t listen to me, ask Stephanopolous and Ross — assuming they’re not out searching for their credibility.

Post navigation

Ben Crystal

is a 1993 graduate of Davidson College and has burned the better part of the last two decades getting over the damage done by modern-day higher education. He now lives in Savannah, Ga., where he has hosted an award-winning radio talk show and been featured as a political analyst for television. Currently a principal at Saltymoss Productions—a media company specializing in concept television and campaign production, speechwriting and media strategy—Ben has written numerous articles on the subjects of municipal authoritarianism, the economic fallacy of sin taxes and analyses of congressional abuses of power.

Join the Discussion

Comment Policy: We encourage an open discussion with a wide range of viewpoints, even extreme ones, but we will not tolerate racism, profanity or slanderous comments toward the author(s) or comment participants. Make your case passionately, but civilly. Please don't stoop to name calling. We use filters for spam protection. If your comment does not appear, it is likely because it violates the above policy or contains links or language typical of spam. We reserve the right to remove comments at our discretion.

Thegovernment’s assault on your personal liberties, including transgressions by the NSA and IRS, proves NOTHING IS OFF-LIMITS! But they’re not your only enemy. In your FREE copy of The Ultimate Privacy Guide discover simple, effective strategies for making Big Business and Big Government BUTT OUT of your personal life!

We will not sell or rent your email address to anyone for any reason. You can un-subscribe at any time.

Look Inside The Ultimate Privacy Guide

The unconstitutional assault on America's civil liberties is continuing with fanatical vigor thanks to the government's gross misuse of power, including transgressions by the NSA and IRS. NOTHING IS OFF-LIMITS! Government SPYING and MANIPULATION is now becoming the American way. But they’re not your only enemy. In your FREE copy of The Ultimate Privacy Guide you'll discover how to: